Tigers in Four
My thoughts turned to Michigan this weekend as the Tigers beat the Yankees. The final two games were, in every possible sense, outright fantastic. The villain was vanquished by the powers of good pitching, defense, and fundamentals.
The camera lingered on Johnny Damon sitting in the dugout late in Game 4, when it was apparent that the Tigers were about the win the series. He was smiling and joking with someone next to him. I imagine they were talking about how the check would be cut all the same, and I thought the image was rather fitting inasmuch as it put in relief the hunger and desire to win evidenced by the Tigers in those games. Had the score been reversed, there would have been no smiles in the other dugout.
It started with Kenny Rogers, whose pitching was masterful Friday evening. Somewhere around the seventh inning, I thought to myself that this was exactly the type of performance that represents why I like baseball so much in the first place. A pitcher in the zone, carving up hitters with breaking balls on the outside corners -- I can think of no more noble feat in sports. When Kenny Rogers yelled at Ivan Rodriguez, demanding the ball back after striking out another Yankee, I caught myself raising my fist on my couch in support.
I came to find out that NAW, a good friend of mine since my grade school and high school days an hour north of Detroit, was at that game. He said that it would change his life -- maybe he wasn’t sure exactly how yet, but the moment of that win was so transcendent that it could not help but alter the lives of the fans sitting there. I know what he’s talking about. It’s why we invest so much of ourselves in this game. His ticket stub is already framed. Perfect. 1,200 miles away, I tip my cap.
Then, on Saturday, Jeremy Bonderman took a perfect game into the 6th inning, and it became clearer in every at-bat that the will of the Tigers was greater than the will of the Yankees to win. It is not possible to measure or quantify heart, but we know it when we see it -- there’s no doubt about that -- and we saw it in the Tigers.
Maybe the Tigers have what it takes to win the whole thing. Maybe not. But what cannot be taken away from them is that in 2006, they went up against what the hype machine was properly calling one of the greatest lineups ever assembled, and they stifled them -- completely and utterly. It was a win for all of us baseball romantics and traditionalists and nostalgics, those of us who believe that playing the game the right way for the right reasons still matters despite the overtones of business that squelch the grace of the game, and that when this premise is personified in an underdog team like the Tigers, somehow mystical forces have aligned to give us a glimpse at the greater good. When Josh Lewin proclaimed “Tigers in four,” it was a perfect baseball moment.
I cannot claim any closer relationship to the moment than as a fan of good baseball, and its best narratives. The Tigers are not my team. But I have several close friends who are exceptional fans, and who have stuck with Detroit baseball through those leanest years, and I couldn’t have been happier for them yesterday evening. Somehow, for all their success this season, I don’t think Yankees fans could have been able to know such an earned moment in the same way as it was felt in Detroit, which is why the moment had to go where it did. Loyalty is not the same when it's easy. I have a hunch that -- no matter how it all turns out -- when I ask my friends in a few weeks whether it was worth it to stick by the Tigers through all those years, for a season like 2006, the answer will be an unqualified yes.
Noble moments indeed.
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First time visitor here, found you from Al's Bleed Cubbie Blue. Nice blog, you write well.
I agree with your sentiment in the final paragraph. Alex Belth at Bronx Banter, usually a very reasonable Yankee fan, said he was "...slightly put off by their post game celebration on the field..." and "...this was just the ALDS." I think Yankee fans have no clue what a Division Series win means to most baseball fans. Pity. But their loss, really.
So, Go Tigers! I'm hoping that there's a little justice in the world, and that Detroit fans will be rewarded for their loyalty this year, finally.
I stopped by last night to see if you had written anything yet. I guess I was a couple hours early. Great piece. Being there was and is purely unexplainable. I'm sure you've had some similar Cubs moments JCB. I try to tell people what it was like, and I stumble and mumble. I can't put it into words exactly. Maybe it was the whole city of Detroit lit up over centerfield. Maybe it was walking around a manicured and suddenly respectable downtown before the game. Maybe it was Ford Field over looking us. Maybe it was the 3rd or 4th major sign that my states Big City is most definatley back. Whatever it was, it is a 4 hour slot of time that will never lose any meaning or vividness to me. I have to keep telling myself it was only game 3 of the ALDS. If I'm this happy about that, am I going to die if they actually win it all? Somehow I don't think it would be all that bad.
Opening day ticket, along with game 161 and game 3 of the ALDS are in a frame. I think it's quite fitting. Opening day, came back heme from a great opening week road trip. Swept the Royals and took 2 of 3 from the Rangers. Chris Shelton was on his way to the hottest April of alltime. We of course lose to The Chi Sox on opening day. Still, it was a great experience. Fast forward over the other 4 games I went to, and we come to the second to last day of the year. An 1 1/2 rain delay, that EVERYONE stuck around for. The place was packed and electric. The Twins had lost and we could have clinched the Central and had a huge party. Of course we give up 7 in the top of the first, but almost claw our way back. And then of course the ALDS ticket. I was pretty lucky this year. Here's to a great ALCS.
I have to admit that I am not one of those die hard Tigers fans that stuck with 'em through the past, well, 15 years while they sucked so badly, but I've never rooted for another team during that time either.
I will never forget the moment when I walked into my bathroom Saturday evening to retrieve a tissue to dab my eyes, and looking back toward the living room only to see my little brother with tears streaming down his face - one of those die hard fans that has struggled and stuck through the good times and the bad.
Ernie Harwell apparently said it best the other night (damn I wish I had been listening to WJR); Tigers' fans would have been happy with a .500 season. This is truly a special treat. May they beat the pants off of the As, but if not, hell, we beat the Yanks! Hopefully the Red Wings can take a cue from the Yankees, and remember it takes hunger, not payroll to get it done.
Great blog, Joel.
It has been a long road since 1987. Being one of those fans that has seen it all throughout those years, I must say, last sat. was great. The way fans were reacting, it should have just been the world series. I dont know how people reacted back in 1984, but if it was anything like last saturday.....I just can't wait. Taking shots from people about being a Tigers fan during all those 100 loss seasons, and sub .500 years, and now watching those same people support the team that they talked down apon is great. I hated people who started to become "fair weather fans", but now to see everyone buzzing about how the Tigers could do it, fair weather or not it is a good time to be a baseball fan. In my eyes, we got 8 more wins and the story will be done!
Big win last night JCB. Robertson pitched his way out of some tight jams, and the player I despise most, next to Fernando Rodney, Brandon Inge came through big. Verlander taking the hill tonight gives us a decided advantage. But thats what they about Zito over Robertson. Should be a great game.